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Just thought you guys might be interested to see this. Today has been one of those days when I've really appreciated doing the job I do. I set off for work this morning at 4.45am, riding 25 miles to our factory (amazng how quickly you can cover 25 miles at that time of day in the heart of Shropshire ) in order to help with the test flight of our latest hot air balloons. What a day - perfect weather for it. We got to the launch site, still in darkness, and laid the balloons ready for their test flights. One of which is, if I say it myself, absolutely awesome. We were approached a while back by George White Superbikes to build them a Special Shape motorcycle & rider. I had the enviable task of conceptualizing a bike that had to be generic enough not to look like anything currently in production, but also something that would look like a machine the 4 Jap manufacturers would possibly make. Not a simple task, but one I threw myself into, being a bikey type chap & all that
Well, after months of hard work, mostly I must say by our brilliant seamstresses, and with my concept turned into a reality by an extremely talented design engineer (I just draw pretty 3d model pictures - he has to make the bloody thing fly !!!) we arrived at what you can see here.

You probably can't get the sheer scale of the thing, so here are some figures: Wheelbase 45 m, height 34 m, wheel diameter 15 m, brake disc diameter 6 m. What we in the trade call f***ing massive!
If you want to get a first hand glimpse of the thing, it will be at all the BSB races this year (weather permitting of course), as George White are sub spomsors of the series. Georger White are also running competitions where one of the prizes includes a flight in this Special Shape. Worth going for, but you will pay at the end of the flight by getting roped into packing the thing away - not something you'd want to do more than necessary (so far I've had the pleasure of doing it twice )
I'll shut up now - hope you like it.


Rene

P.S - D-rider - sorry, I was a bit tired (and a little squiffy) last night and wasn't sure the images were posted in right, so I deleted it to re-input when sober . Hope I've got it right now.

nope.

Ah .... the post I was replying to has resurfaced

Here's the reply:
https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=6215

Ok, finally sussed it - pictures now viewable. Not built for technology me

That's , erm , BIG!

'kin awesome

Nice to start with a power wheelie too

Fantastic!

Last pic - where's what looks like a hill fort in the background?

Fantastic stuff - looks great!

Amazing some work has gone into that - oh and yes, your bike IS bigger than mine

Hope it has Nooj's anti puncture treatment.

Oh God dont set Nooj off, I can almost hear him salivating from here!

'So that's 200 motorcycle kits at 20 quid... I can do the all year round protection for half price, so....'

fastasfcuk wrote:nope.

gary

Worth going for, but you will pay at the end of the flight by getting roped into packing the thing away - not something you'd want to do more than necessary

How heavy are these things? I see the small trailer behind the 4wd, I assume it all fits in there (somehow?)
Having moved army tents and shite like that about, that unfold into 18 x 24 ft size and knowing how heavy they are, I can only assume its a 10 man job to get the baloon packed away into the trailer? do you fold it into the trailer, or bag it up and shift it into it?

and No i dont want to come have a try! Tents are quite enough thanks!

Im also trying to figure which Falco part you managed to sneak in there. original swingarm?

Kwakers

This one's about 550kg, and snakes into a custom made box that's hauled by the wee tractor you can see on the left of the 4wd & trailer. The crew of 3 reckon they've got a good system going, but I don't envy them.
No Falco pats in there I'm afraid, although I probably should have now that you mention it.

<Voice="Darth Vader">
Impressive!
</Voice>